What Is “The Abundant Life?”

For the past few months, it seems a heavy cloud has been hanging over us. The fighting in the Ukraine, the senseless shooting in my city, and a tragic accident in our school.

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Our heavy hearts and longing for things to be made whole and right cause us to cry out like the psalmist, “how long, O Lord?”

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And when so much heartache is spinning around us, we want to make sense of things. We want to ask God, “why?” or conjure up answers in our minds.

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Recently a friend shared with me John 10:10, that Jesus came that we might have life and have it abundantly. In her mind, the abundant life means one that is free from sickness, disability, pain and suffering. She believes all the misery in the world is the result of Satan’s attacks and our own unbelief.

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But the Bible tells us that we should not be surprised when fiery trials come upon us (1 Peter 4:12). They are not out of God’s control. Jesus even reminds us, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

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What if the abundant life means that we rejoice when we share in Christ’s sufferings? (1 Peter 4:13)

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What if the abundant life means having a peace that surpasses understanding, even in the midst of a trial? (Philippians 4:7)

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What if the abundant life means not being healed from our bodily ailments, but looking forward to heaven when all things are made new? A hope that surpasses getting all that we want in this physical world but keeps our eyes on eternity?

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Jesus doesn’t promise us a comfortable and easy life. Instead we’re exhorted to pick up our crosses and follow Him (Matt. 16:24-26) not out of a Christian drudgery, but for the joy set before us.(Hebrews 12:2) The trials of this life wean us from the world and teach us that our only true satisfaction will be found in God.

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“For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matt. 16:25)